Direction-indicator for automobiles



M. E. WILSON. DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-4, I92!- 1,397, 666, Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

INVENTIJFK UNITED STATES MICHAEL EDWARD WILSON, DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

DIRECTION-INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed August 4, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL Enwnnn WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Direction-Indi cators for Automobiles, of which the follow ing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in explaining its nature.

My invention has for its object, improvements in the signaling device proper, of such direction indicators as employ a semaphore arm which in operation is displayed at different angles of inclination. The signaling arm is intended to be operated by an operating device placed conveniently to the vehicle operator, with which device it is connected by chain or other flexible transmission means. The operating means employed should be of that class which provides different latching positions for each position of the semaphore arm and be preferably of that form shown in my application Serial Number d62,. 51 and the invention consists in the improvements particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing the invention is shown applied to a truck, the first figure being a repetition as far as is applicable and as indicated by the first twelve figures of refer ence, of the first figure of the above named application. Referring to the drawings, Figure 1, is a partial transverse section of a truck equipped with a device embodying my invention, Fig. 2, is an enlarged elevation of the signaling part of the device, Fig. 3, is a fractional repetition of Fig. 1, but with the signaling arm in the vertical position of repose, a small portion being broken to show interior mechanism; Fig. 5, is a side view of Fig. 3, from which also a part is broken, and Fig. 4, is a further enlarged detail of the latch parts, being a partial section on the indicated line of Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1., the parts of the vehicle indicated are: the goods body 1, the cab roof the left hand wall of the cab 3, steering wheel 6, and seat 7 The signaling part, 12, of the device I have shown mounted on the left hand part of the goods body 1, by the base 9 upon which it is carried. The operating device 21, secured to the cab wall on the inside in such position as to be reached easily by the drivers left hand is that described and claimed in the former applica- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 22, 1921.

Serial No. 489,770.

tion. Connection between is made by chain 10, or other flexible means of transmission, the chain being supported on pulleys 11, or pivots where it changes direction.

In use the signal arm'takes the three significent positions shown in Fig. 1, and a vertical downward position of repose when not in use, not shown in Fig. 1, but indicated sufliciently in Fig. 3. The signal arm is raised from its position to all three of the significant positions by the operating device 21, and retained in these positions by latching devices incorporated, and returned to the vertical position of repose by gravity upon the operation of a trip device also incorporated therein.

Signal arms as previously constructed have in operation shown a tendency to rebound when falling by gravity into the position of repose particularly when a solid stop is used to limit the falling motion and while a friction or spring stop such as is used in my above application will eliminate the rebound, the use-of such increases the eflort required to raise the arm at the first part of such movement.

In the present invention I overcome this disability by counterbalancing the arm so that the reboundwill not be as severe and by the use of a latch positively opposed to the direction of such rebound, which latch is automatically removed by the first operating strain of the transmitting chain.

The semaphore arm 12 I make of sheet metal to resemble the human arm and hand in outline, and lengthwise of it I stamp corrugations, 13, to increase its stiffness. This arm is secured by screws 14, or otherwise to extensions 15, of an arm carrier 16, pivoted upon the stud 17 formed integral with the metal base piece 9, which by its extended flange is secured as by screws 18, to any convenient part of the vehicle. On the side opposite to the arm, the body, of the arm-carrier is extended and thickened to form a counterbalance 19 of such weight as to nearly counterbalance the weight of the arm, leaving suflicient preponderance to the arm however to assure the arm taking the vertical downward position when free to do so. On the back side of the arm carrier I form a circular flange 20, integral therewith and concentric with the stud 17 for the reception of the chain 10 by which the arm is actuated. Between the extensions 15 the arm carrier is formed with a sector like sions whose outline substantially continues the Outline of the flange 20. Within the sector like opening of the arm carrier a post 23, formed integral with the base piece- 9' extends through the body of the arm carrier. This post 23 is so placed upon the base that a flat side 24:, makes contact with a radial side 25, of the sector like opening when the arm is in the vertical position of repose, and the opposite radial side of the opening is sufficiently removed from the first so that it does not strike the post when the arm is raised to its highest position. The arm in falling to its vertical position is arrested by the'face 25, of the arm carrier striking the post.

Upon the back side of the arm carrier I pivot a latch 26, upon a small'stud 27, fast in the arm carrier, so located that the latch will engage the post 23'at a flattened face 28, provided upon the post, and the latch is provided with a spring 29, clamped solidly by one end. in a slot in the latch the other end of which spring is strained by a pin 30, projecting from the back face of the the latch from its vposition engaging the post, leaving the arm free to be raised as usual. Upon release of the operatingdevice the chain is relieved of strain, the latch is then free to assumeits position of engagement impelled by the spring and upon completion of the fall of the arm the latch engages the post and. retains the arm. in that position. As the-operating device puts no strain on the chain when the arm is in its vertical position of repose the latch remains in its locking position and under the influence. of the spring and the arm is retained in its vertical position held by the post from going any farther and by the latch trom rebounding. And as only very light strain is required in the spring noticeableeffort is required to overcome same in starting to raise the si-gnal. I 7

What I claim desire to ters Patent a e;

In an automobile arm having an arm-carrier with divided exborne, and base piece upon which the semaphore arm is pivoted having a stop post.

secure by Let-.

s g alt a se aphore projecting between the extensions of the arm-carrier. V I

in an automobile signal, a semaphore having an arm carrier with divided eXtensions'upon which the display signal is borne, and a base piece upon which the semaphore arm is pivoted having a stop post projecting between the extensions of the arm carrier into the plane of motion of the arm carrier.

In an automobile signal, a semaphore arm having an arm-carrier upon which the display signal is borne, a base piece upon which the semaphore is pivoted having a stop-post projectinginto the path of motion of the arm carrier, and ,alatch engaging-the stop post; said latch carried by the armcarrierand pivoted at'a point thereon tangential to its engaging point with the post.

4. In an automobile signal, a' semaphore arm having an arm-carrier upon which the display signal is borne, a base piece upon which the semaphore arm is pivoted having stop post projecting into the path of motion of the arm-carrier, a latch engaging the stop post said latch carried by the armcarrier, and a spring between the latch and arm-carrier.

5. In an automobile signal, a semaphore having an arm-carrier upon which the display signal is borne, a base piece upon which the semaphore arm is pivoted having a stop-post projecting into the path of motion of the arm-carrier, a latch engaging the stop-post said latch. carried by the armcarrier, a spring between latch and arm carrier, and an operating chain oneend of which is attached to the said latch.

6. In an automobile signal, a semaphore arm having an arm-carrier upon which the display signal is borne said arm -carrier also having an integral circular chain flange, a base piece upon which the semaphore arm is pivoted having a stop post projecting into the path of motion of the arm-carrier, a

latch engaging the stop post said latch carried by thearm-carrier, a'sprlngupon the latch, and an operating'chain one end of which is attached to the latch, the said chain also engaging the circular flange part of the arm-carrien v 1 7. In an automobileiisignal, a semaphore armhav-ing an arm-carrier upon which the display signal is borne, basepiec'e upon which the semaphore arm is pivotedhaving a stop post projecting into the path of mo tion of the arm-carrier, and a latch en'gaging the stop-post said latch arried ;by the arm-carrier; the said arm-carr1er also having a circular flange for an operating chain integral therewith and in the same plane with the latch.

MICHAEL EDWARD WILSON. 

